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Saturday, May 25, 2013

Broadcast 8 Preview: With Greater Awareness Part 5

[If you have no idea what this post is about, and want to start at the beginning of the series, you can find Spinward Fringe Broadcast 0: Origins free wherever quality EBooks are sold. AmazonBarnes & NobleSmashwordsiBookstore]

The jungle ruled
the terrain beyond the picker’s base camp. The sounds of birds and calls from
other animals filled the air around her. There was no doubt; she was in the
midst of wilderness unlike anything she’d ever seen. Birds with green, blue,
and white feathers watched her from large branches as she passed only metres
below. They were predator birds, with great talons and cool, assessing gazes.

The last time she
saw so many birds in one place, she had woken early on New Year’s Day. She
strolled along the beach, avoiding people who were still asleep on the sand and
saying hello to early risers like herself. Her walk came to an end when she ran
into Minh-Chu, in front of the tent he shared with Ashley. He served Alice some
of the blueberry-mint tea concoction he was drinking and commented on the birds
lazily gliding overhead.

He’d never seen
live birds before. It was Alice’s third time. They didn’t talk much, but
marvelled at the grace of the feathered flyers overhead as they rode the air
currents and pinwheeled around until Ashley woke up some time later.

That morning was
on her mind as she made her way through the jungle, tracking the escaped
androids. Alice knew she should be getting close, and as she pressed onward across
the massive lower branches, higher pitched chirps from smaller birds grew
louder.

Her tactical
scanner was trying to piece something together, a ruined structure that the
trees had broken through. She stopped a moment and let the system finish
shaping the map ahead. There were still intact towers reaching up into the
trees; some were hollow while others had levels and rooms that looked like
habitation areas. They were all attached to one main hub, a large dome made of
older transparent metal.

It took her
several minutes of looking to match what was in the scan results with something
she could see. The structure was overgrown inside and out, but a few panels of
transparesteel had popped free over time. “But how did the androids get in?”
she asked herself.

The tactical scanner
couldn’t find clear tracks – the jungle had already overgrown any sign of their
passage close to the main dome. There were enough places for her to squeeze
into the structure, but with the tangle of vegetation inside the large building,
she wanted to pick the best entry point. She mentally ordered the tactical
scanner to do a broader search for androids. Within seconds it highlighted a
turret above her. “More climbing, fun, fun, fun.”

“You don’t want
to go in there,” Lewis’ voice told her over her communicator.

“You mean I don’t
want to go in there alone?” Alice asked as she prepared a grappling line on her
right wrist. The thin, strong tether line was made for use as a safety device
on space walks, but the rangers found it did just as well for terrestrial
adventures.

“I can’t see
inside that structure, but there are transmissions I can’t decrypt weakly
emanating from within,” Lewis replied. “You should leave it alone.”

Alice stopped
everything she was doing and stared at the dark opening many metres above her.
Normally, Lewis would suggest she wait for backup, but he’d never suggested she
stop altogether before. “What do you think I’ll find in there, Lewis?”

“I can’t tell for
certain.”

“Guess,” Alice
replied. The channel between her and Lewis was still open, but he wasn’t
replying. “Is all this because of something you did?” Again, her question was
answered with silence.

“I’m ordering you
to reply immediately,” Alice said.

“You are no
longer my legal owner,” Lewis said.

“All right, I’ll
invite Ayan to our little chat. Maybe I should have done that right at the
beginning.”

“The Ando models
downloaded the antivirus I designed and they’ve been distressed ever since. One
of them is broadcasting a weak signal, I can’t decrypt his message.”

“Is this the
Holocaust Virus all over again? Is there anything in the antivirus that could
make things worse?” Alice asked.

“Not for humans,”
Lewis replied casually.

“But there’s a
chance any bot that downloads your miracle cure can just go nuts and run for
the jungle?”

“I was certain that the antivirus would remain
in reserve, unable to overwrite directives and morality code, but something in
the Ando models…”

“Have proven you
wrong? What? What did your software screw up with those androids? I’m going
into this situation regardless of what you tell me, if you care about me at
all, you’ll tell me more so I have a better chance in there.”

“I can’t scan
them from my location. If I were within a kilometre it wouldn’t be an issue,
but I suspect the Ando models chose your location because of the structure and
remote location.”

“It’s difficult
to scan in this whole area,” Alice agreed. “So they’re probably hiding
something. Can you at least give me a hint? Just give me your best guess at
what they’re hiding.”

“I don’t have
enough information for that, I’m sorry. I’ve told you everything I know,” Lewis
said. “The androids seem content to remain inside this structure, much further
in the jungle than any picker would go, and one of them seems to be calling other
Ando models. I suggest you leave it alone and report that the Holocaust Virus
has activated a defect in the Andos.”

“I’m going in. If
there’s anything else you’re holding back, this is your last chance to share,”
Alice said. She fired her line and it struck solid metal beneath the entrance
above. A flock of black and green birds took wing, fleeing the opening.

“I have more
questions than answers, Alice. There is something sinister in the signal, I am
sure of that, at least. If I weren’t docked in Haven Shore, expected to remain
moored here until later, I would be there.”

“You know me too
well,” Lewis replied. “I won’t be able to communicate clearly with you once you
enter. If you insist on going in, I suggest you at least call backup in, or
open communications with your father. He would understand this.”

“And I won’t?”
Alice asked as she tested the line. “I’ll just check it out and if I get in
over my head, I’ll consider getting other people involved.” She activated the
winch and was drawn up rapidly.

I suggest you read all the books preceding this short, especially Broadcast 7: Framework. If you already did, well, you missed a major part of that book somehow. Oh, and it would be better if you followed the link at the top of the post so you can start this short from part 1.